Gum massager



Oct. 21, 1952 M. STAUNT 2,614,556

GUM MASSAGER Filed Nov. 29, 1951 IN V EN TOR. 7ZZa7z2/z .Szmzzz lar characters of reference indicate similar Patented Oct. 21, 1952 The present; inventioncelatesto :gumw-massagers; and is-particularlyconcerneclwvith an im proved formof =gum -massagen thesoft parts of which may-be replaced,-renewegi-, or sterilized; being readiIy remoVable'from'the handle The-presentapplicationis :aiicontinuation-inpart of prior-- application; ;Ser. No. -1-95501Q; filed-November 1 1950 now Patent- Number 236001 36,--fo19;umMassager-;- and this applicati'on' relates particularly to the-interdentalpoint used on the massager.

; ii -Jemima; (o1. lac-+162 it; is-inert to chemicalactionr "l-taisapreferably vision ofarr-improved gum massaging device which is adapted. to absorb..and, spread medicaments of a liquidtypetttthesame time the gums are; being.:massaged.

Another object is the provision-of animprovedgum massager -hay ing a permanent handle and a removable and renewable block of sponge rubber whic iiis r y y vably m edt nt h handler.

' 'Another'objectof the'inventionis the provision of Y an improved gum massagerp the handle of wh max-a ehapmr ded. ith anubbertpo nt m m enidr useinmas aeinethegeumsa o nts between'the teeth, that is, 'for dnterproximai; spaces.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved handle construction which is adapted to interlock with a block of sponge rubber and an improved form of rubber point which can easily be assembled with the metal handle, and which will not become detached when pressure is applied to either of these members.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which simiparts throughout the several views. v

Referring to the single sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a gum massager embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, with the sponge rubber block in section to show its mode of attachment;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the metal handle alone; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the present gum massager I0 preferably includes a handle II, a rubber pointed member I2; and a sponge rubber block I3. The handle II may be of any suitable. rigid material, such as fiber or plastic, provided made of metal; such-as stainless steel; so that it can be kept in -a clean and shining condition and: sterilizedwithout'damage;

The handle II may consist of a strip of-stainless steel of substantially uniform-width. except that itis preferably narrowed or curved inwardly at I4 near the sponge-rubber.- The handle was shownalone in 3'; "At its-upper end itis provided with an-.e lohgated; rectangular aperture I5- locatedgbelow 'a; pair' of taperedprqngs I6 The tapered prongs lii; and ll rhave rourided' points I 8; I 9.,1- and prong I 1 -mayjbe 'formedmut ofjthe body of the handle, utilizing the material which is bent uncut of-the aperture I5.;The aperture I5, however, is wider and longerfthan the prongs and" is adapted to receive a portion 20 of-"the sponge" rubber block l 3;.which' is pressed' into "the aperture I 5" and-held there by prongs IG and; I-1. r

' At its upper end" the handle I I @Figg, 2) is proja need w th; an. easy r n bend Z atjheilia of the pro e I6; whi h ape s sradnallvqnqheth of its sides ZZj'to-a relatively.bluntjpoinhi. Both p pn i ii-a d: l Ifo m;w hthejrem ind r; fthe body of the handle II, a wedging groove, as indi cated at 23 and 24 in Fig. 2, between which parts of the sponge rubber block are wedged.

The prongs I6, I'I have teeth Ilia, Ila, to retain the sponge rubber.

The handle I I is preferably bent backward with a rather large curve at the narrow neck I4, this outer rear curved surface being indicated at 25 (Fig. 2).

The sponge rubber block I3 consists of a block of porous compressible live resilient rubber, which is preferably wider than the body of the handle and longer than the space between the bases of the prongs I6 and I1; that is, the sponge rubber block I3 has to be compressed not only to get it between the ends of the prongs, butit is still under endwise compression when it is seated on the prongs IB and I1, as shown in Fig. 2'.

The sponge rubber block is preferably punched I with small apertures extending in from each end for reception of the prongs I6 and I1; and the apertures are centrally located so that when the prongs are seated in them the back of the rubber block has a portion 20 pressed into the aperture I5.

All of these features of construction combine to interlock the sponge rubber block firmly with the parts of the handle so that it will not become detached when subjected to pressure and reciprodating motion along its axis or transverse to its axis.

At its lower end (Fig. 3) handle II is provided with a round aperture 26, the edge of which is concentric with the rounded end 2'! of the handle. This aperture is adapted to receive the pointed rubber member l2, which has a head 28, a groove 29, and a laterally projecting enlargement 30 on the other side of the groove. From the enlargement 30. the pointed rubber member 12 tapers concavely'at 3| to a sharp resilient point at 32.

Enlargement 30 is round and is made on a radius larger than the curved end of handle H; thus the rubber projects beyond the stainless steel and protects the gums against contact with the metal.

The head 28 is small enough so that it may be compressed and pushed through the aperture 26 so that the rim of metal surrounding aperture 26 may be firmly seated in the groove 29. Thus the handle is gripped between the enlargements 30 and 28; and the groove 29 may be made actually smaller than the thickness of the handle so that the rubber pointed member l2'will actually grip the handle. I The pointed member l2 may be used for the interproximal spaces, while the sponge rubber block 13 may be used for massaging the gums on the inside and the outside. is so soft that there is no likelihood of damaging the gums; and all of the metal parts are entirely covered with sponge rubber where they might come in contact with the gums.

The soft rubber point and sponge rubber block may be renewed or replaced; and the entire as sembly may be subjected to sterilizing heat without damage.

It'will' thus be observed that I have invented an improved gum massager which is simple in" construction, and which may be used on all parts of the gums. The rubber parts of the massager may wear out, but new parts may be substituted;

and the absorbent nature of the sponge rubber block makes it possible to spread liquid medicaments on the gum with the massager.

, Wh11e I' have illustrated .a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may The sponge rubber be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A gum massager comprising an elongated handle of sheet metal or the like having plane sides, and having a rounded end provided with an aperture substantially concentric with the end, said aperture being substantially cylindrical, and an interdental massaging member comprising an integral unit made of soft resilient rubber provided with a circular body having an annular surface for engaging one side of the handle, an integral cylindrical shank engaging in said aperture, and a rounded head adapted to be pushed through the aperture and to expand to engage theopposite side of the handle at said aperture, the said body having an acutely pointed elongated working end which is formed by a concave curved surface of revolution so that the pointed end is sharp and small over a substantial portion of its length, due to said concavity, which permits its insertion into and through the interdental spaces, the said circular body having a larger radius of the said rounded end, with reference to the said cylindrical aperture so that said bOdy projects beyond the rounded metal end to prevent the metal from engaging the gums or teeth.

- MARTIN STAUNT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,450,612 Schultz Apr. 2 3, 1923 ,141,969 Benz Dec. 27, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES 

